Fireplace humidifier and smoke return

ABSTRACT

A unit for placement within a fireplace of a house, the device serving to humidify the air of a room, the device comprising a housing forming a reservoir containing water, the water being heated by the smoke carrying thermo heat passed the housing so to heat the water into steam, the smoke after circulating passed the housing then curling back into the fireplace due to a specifically shaped baffle formed along a forward side of the housing.

United States Patent 91 [111 3,765,399 Gerlach Oct. 16, 1973 [54] FIREPLACE HUMIDIFIER AND SMOKE 907,195 12/ 1908 Stemmer 126/134 RETURN 2,322,016 6/1943 Hardeman 126/ 121 X Inventor: William Cecil Gerlach, 9339 Fairground Rd., Louisville, Ky. 40291 Filed: Mar. 19, 1971 Appl. No.: 126,244

U.S. Cl. 126/120, 126/134 Int. Cl. F24f 3/14 Field of Search 126/120, 121, 134

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1901 Connell 126/134 Primary ExaminerWilliam F. ODea Assistant ExaminerPeter D. Ferguson [57] ABSTRACT A unit for placement within a fireplace of a house, the device serving. to humidify the air of a room, the device comprising a housing forming a reservoir containing water, the water being heated by the smoke carrying thermo heat passed the housing so to heat the water into steam, the smoke after circulating passed the housing then curling back into the fireplace due to a specifically shaped baffle formed along a forward side of the housing.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures FIREPLACE HUMIDIFIER AND SMOKE RETURN This invention relates generally to room humidifiers. A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved room humidifier for a house which is fitted into a fireplace so to utilize the heat there from to vaporize a quantity of water for humidifying purposes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace humidifier which includes a hollow housing that serves as a reservoir for a quantity of water, the water being heated into steam by the heat from-the fireplace.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fireplace humidifier having a specially configurated baffle thereof so to permit circulation of smoke from the fireplace there around, the smoke carrying thermo heat for heating the water.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fireplace humidifier and smoke return which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar view thereof shown mounted in a fireplace shown in side cross section.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a fireplace humidifier and smoke return according to the present invention wherein there is a hollow housing 11, the hollow housing serving as a reservoir within which a quantity of water is placed.

The humidifier is made from formed sheet metal and includes an open trough 12 along a forward edge there of which is adjacent a rear side of a front baffle 13.

The baffle 13 is specially configurated and has a lower portion thereof which extends downwardly lower than the humidifier housing 11, the baffle serving to direct the movement of smoke from the fireplace passed the humidifier housing so that thermo heat can be transferred from the smoke directly to the same. Thereafter the smoke is caused to curl back into the fireplace due to the specifically shaped baffle.

In operative use, it is now evident that the water is thermolly heated so to turn to steam which then vaporizes into the air of the room, thus humidifying the room air.

What I now claim is:

1. In a fireplace humidifier and smoke return, the combination of a housing, said housing being made of formed sheet metal, said housing forming an enclosure that serves as a reservoir for containing water, said housing being provided with a longitudinally extending trough along a forward upper edge thereof, said trough communicating with the interior of said housing and providing a means for evaporation of said water from said reservoir, and a specifically configurated baffle being formed along a front side of said housing, said baffle having aportion thereof extending higher than said trough adjacent a rear side thereof, and a lower end of said baffle extending downwardly a greater distance than the lower side of said housing, said baffle serving to direct the movement of smoke from said fireplace, said baffle being of double arcuate configuration. 

1. In a fireplace humidifier and smoke return, the combination of a housing, said housing being made of formed sheet metal, said housing forming an enclosure that serves as a reservoir for containing water, said housing being provided with a longitudinally extending trough along a forward upper edge thereof, said trough communicating with the interior of said housing and providing a means for evaporation of said water from said reservoir, and a specifically configurated baffle being formed along a front side of said housing, said baffle having a portion thereof extending higher than said trough adjacent a rear side thereof, and a lower end of said baffle extending downwardly a greater distance than the lower side Of said housing, said baffle serving to direct the movement of smoke from said fireplace, said baffle being of double arcuate configuration. 